Receiving unsolicited OneDrive File/Folder shares, how do I stop it?

Phillip Confused 345

Recently strangers (AI driven bots) have started sending me emails sharing links to their Microsoft Onedrives!

How do I stop this from happening?

Are there any security concerns (Viruses/Malware)?

Am I liable if they attempt to share any illegal content?

I receive the Email into my junk folder which I can't stop and then I get a Onedrive notification of the file/folder share. What can I do?

Thank you very much for any advice.

Regards

Phil

Moved from: Community Center | Discuss the Q&A site | Other feedback

Jian Qiao 35 Reputation points

2025-12-07T16:24:24.7533333+00:00

I am facing the same issue.

Microsoft is the worst out of most major email services regarding spam filtering. Everyday I receive hundreds of malicious email. And I’ve tried to work with Microsoft agents multiple times over the years. But they just seem too incompetent to do anything about it.

Now I’m also starting to get these notifications of malicious links and pictures in my OneDrive everyday. I would expect the same thing from Microsoft: COMPLETE INCOMPETENCE to fix the problem.
Manon 10 Reputation points

2025-12-08T10:46:50.4566667+00:00

I have a similar issue, but I only receive a OneDrive notification, no email, and therefore cannot block the sender. What can I do? I get sent such a file every three hours since Friday, this is distressing. @Katerina-N can you help me?
Enza 25 Reputation points

2025-12-09T17:23:53.1633333+00:00

I have the same problem. No email and therefore I cannot block the email address. Also, the instructions you provifed to Disable OneDrive share notifications (Go to OneDrive Settings → Notifications: Uncheck “Someone shares files with me”) are not available for me. I have only three options.
Enza 25 Reputation points

2025-12-09T17:27:32.9166667+00:00

Why isn't the option to block the sender in the same window of reporting a concern? Why do I have to go into outlook? In fact, the email addresses are not available to me.

I prefer Microsoft to Google but man, do you really suck at blocking junk/phishing emails. I receive up to 100 emails a day in junk mail folder and I am constantly reporting them as fishing. The same emails or domains keep filling up my junk mail folder. At one point the spamming was so bad that I had 1000+ emails flooding my Junk Mail.

You have to figure out a better way to make this better for your customers, especially the ones who have been with you for almost 30 years!!!
Katerina-N 9,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-11T00:22:26.4033333+00:00

Hello Manon and Enza,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum!

I understand that you’re facing the same issue with receiving unwanted OneDrive folder-sharing notifications. I’m truly sorry for this inconvenience when getting spam shares without any way to block the sender must feel very frustrating. I completely understand how upsetting this can be, and I’m here to help.

Here are some suggestions that may improve the situation:

1. Hide the shared files

Go to OneDrive Web → Shared → Files shared with you → Select → Hide from Shared.

This will remove the files from your view (though they will still remain in the sender’s OneDrive).

2. Report abuse

In the same menu, choose Report abuse for each unwanted share.

This notifies Microsoft so we can investigate and take appropriate action if the sender is violating policies.

3. Contact Microsoft Support for escalation

Since these unwanted shares happen every few hours, this is considered persistent harassment.

Please reach out to Microsoft Support through support.microsoft.com/contactus → Sign in → OneDrive → For Home Use → Chat or Request a Call.

You can explain: “I am receiving repeated unwanted OneDrive shares without email notifications and I have no option to block the sender. Please help escalate this issue.”

4. Submit feedback

Your feedback is very important to us, it helps our engineering team improve the product for all users. Visit here: Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app

Please understand for us that, we don’t have access to your personal account, your subscription, or your OneDrive data, so we’re not able to control who sends you shared files or stop those shares from your side. To help prevent similar issues in the future, it’s also a good idea to be careful when sharing your email address or personal information on external websites or services.

I truly hope this helps, and I’m always here if you need more assistance or have any updates.

Best regards,
Katerina-N 9,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-11T00:22:58.8866667+00:00

Hello Jian Qiao,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum!

I understand that you’re facing the same issue with receiving unwanted OneDrive folder-sharing notifications. I’m truly sorry for this inconvenience when getting spam shares without any way to block the sender must feel very frustrating. I completely understand how upsetting this can be, and I’m here to help.

Here are some suggestions that may improve the situation:

1. Hide the shared files

Go to OneDrive Web → Shared → Files shared with you → Select → Hide from Shared.

This will remove the files from your view (though they will still remain in the sender’s OneDrive).

2. Report abuse

In the same menu, choose Report abuse for each unwanted share.

This notifies Microsoft so we can investigate and take appropriate action if the sender is violating policies.

3. Contact Microsoft Support for escalation

Since these unwanted shares happen every few hours, this is considered persistent harassment.

Please reach out to Microsoft Support through support.microsoft.com/contactus → Sign in → OneDrive → For Home Use → Chat or Request a Call.

You can explain: “I am receiving repeated unwanted OneDrive shares without email notifications and I have no option to block the sender. Please help escalate this issue.”

4. Submit feedback

Your feedback is very important to us, it helps our engineering team improve the product for all users. Visit here: Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app

Please understand for us that, we don’t have access to your personal account, your subscription, or your OneDrive data, so we’re not able to control who sends you shared files or stop those shares from your side. To help prevent similar issues in the future, it’s also a good idea to be careful when sharing your email address or personal information on external websites or services.

I truly hope this helps, and I’m always here if you need more assistance or have any updates.

Best regards,
Suraj Pavawalla 80 Reputation points

2025-12-11T06:19:51.3766667+00:00

Hi, How can I turn off receiving shared files in OneDrive? I don't want to risk it.
jeremy perkins 5 Reputation points

2025-12-11T06:59:27.0833333+00:00

I agree, how about make a button that stops people I don't know from sending me files??? WTF, what if my child has my phone and clicks the link or what if my elderly parents click on something thinking someone is sending them something... if I don't know you I don't want a file from you. Stop making scammers lives easier microsoft, you all ready employ enough of them.
MadPeanut 265 Reputation points

2025-12-11T12:52:58.69+00:00

This is a significant security risk and Microsoft needs to address this pretty urgently. Allowing people to share files with you, which you can ONLY hide is a serious flaw. ITs fine someone wants to try and share something with me but I need to have the ability to accept or reject it not just hide the file. This is allowing an attacker to flood people's onedrive with unsolicited and malicious files and the recipient has no control (other than to hide)...
Suraj Pavawalla 80 Reputation points

2025-12-11T14:31:41.05+00:00

I keep receiving them. If they continue, I'm going back to Google Drive.
Mats 35 Reputation points

2025-12-11T19:51:19.6633333+00:00

I've had the same problem since yesterday. What's more, I'm receiving it on an alias that I created solely for the purpose of logging into my MS account, so it's doubly strange to me - it hasn't been used anywhere besides Outlook/Onedrive loggin(did microsoft leak my login????). On the other hand, since it's an alias for logging into my account, I haven't configured it as an email address at all so no spam email jst notifications and sus pdfs in shared onedrive.
tyler gillette 0 Reputation points

2025-12-12T00:19:39.98+00:00

I do not use, nor do I want OneDrive. I have been getting spammed for days with these same notifications.

How do I disable this securty risk entirely? How do I shut down my OneDrive account so no files can be shared with it?
Sander Morsink 145 Reputation points

2025-12-15T09:26:21.11+00:00

This has been a big problem for me for the last week. Seemingly random people sharing PDF's with possibly malicious links in them, and there is no way to remove them except for reporting and hoping MS does something. It makes OneDrive rather dangerous to use.
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matt hogan 55 Reputation points

2025-12-16T09:53:55.47+00:00

Happened to me as well. There's no way to unreceive a share and block a sender as far as I can work out. Looks like I can only hide it but then it's still there in the background, appearing in searches, lurking, hidden from view. Hacker's paradise.
Wayne Vali 65 Reputation points

2025-12-16T19:26:55.7866667+00:00

Surely this is not just a security issue, but just as important a breach of consent. You should be allowed to review something someone is trying to share with you and be given the option of accepting or denying it else it opens you up to any random spammer that has your email address to automatically share on your drive.
Nemanja Simić 15 Reputation points

2025-12-17T02:07:19.5666667+00:00

I can't Hide or Delete shared files.
Rui 35 Reputation points

2025-12-17T02:52:07.94+00:00

I'd like to add my voice to this. I've been getting these files sent to me for the last couple of weeks. Microsoft needs to address this ASAP
Shane 10 Reputation points

2025-12-17T04:01:31.7766667+00:00

I've got the same issue and am getting extremely frustrated with receiving these files. There should be an option to block all sharing unless you authorise. I can't believe that they have security in place for email junk but not sharing junk.
Daniel Haugland 20 Reputation points

2025-12-17T07:12:56.09+00:00
I recently got into the same issue.

This is a serious flaw Microsoft, and needs to be adressed asap!

The general help posted above is not any help.

There is no email received upon being shared with, ergo no one to block.

Some files is possible to hide and report, others are not.

Disabling Onedrive notifications to not be bothered is not a solution.
Jo 45 Reputation points

2025-12-17T07:45:20.4233333+00:00

I'm getting spammed by these shared files too. It's unbelievable that in this age of security awareness, Microsoft a) doesn't offer any controls over accepting shared files b) doesn't detect and removed malicious content and spam and c) doesn't have a robust method of reporting and deleting these files ( yes there is a report option- it fails more often than it works.)
PT 65 Reputation points

2025-12-17T09:44:59.71+00:00
Being spammed with them this past couple weeks after having no issues for years. How on earth are MS so inept to even allow this, and not allow us to turn the feature off

Instead I am getting sent adult images in pdf form etc in the hope I click on the links!!

Also in uk law the moderators comment is not true

Are you liable if they share illegal content?

No, you are not liable just for receiving a share.

Liability only arises if you download, store, or redistribute illegal content.

Simply ignoring or deleting the share keeps you safe.

Receiving highly illegal images is also classed as distribution and sharing content as has been shown in many prosecution cases
PT 65 Reputation points

2025-12-17T09:59:50.54+00:00
Are you liable if they share illegal content?

No, you are not liable just for receiving a share.

Liability only arises if you download, store, or redistribute illegal content.

Simply ignoring or deleting the share keeps you safe.

This is NOT true for certain extreme images in UK law (people are for example prosecuted for "production" of certain extreme images that were received in WA messages etc) , and a massive risk to people casually allowing this to go on.

Also you also say dont click on them etc. Well in your app notifications on mobile they just come up and immediately loads the content to your phone to view when clicked not even just to a preview or information page beforehand
Arthur Visser 45 Reputation points

2025-12-17T12:55:50.57+00:00

I have the same issue. It's annoying that I cannot turn this off. Turning off permissions on every invidual file or deleting them is useless - they keep coming from other bots.

I want to be able to turn off this feature for everyone.

Also, this. You cannot remove it, only 'hide from shared'. But then I'm presented with a dialog asking to remove it, which it isn't doing, since I'll still have access to it after 'removal'. I want it gone! I don't want to have access to it after I 'remove' it!
Sander Morsink 145 Reputation points

2025-12-17T12:58:53.7966667+00:00

Most of these files are removed some time after reporting them, but I have one file that I can't delete or even report on and has stayed in my shared files for days now. Sad to see onedrive becoming as bad as outlook.com.
Joanna 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T13:10:27.13+00:00

If I end up with a vast amount of illegal content on my PC, as a result of the decision of Microsoft to cease my control over what is shared to me, would the Admins please confirm that Microsoft will defend any prosecution, pay any fines and compensate me for any time spent or losses incurred?
PT 65 Reputation points

2025-12-17T13:28:34.2833333+00:00

I've had several in the last hour alone. "Report a concern" majority of the time says sorry theres a problem please try again later. Deleting, only sometimes decides it wants to delete

MS this is a disgrace forcing us to receive all these soft pornographic image pdfs with maliscious links inside them with no option to prevent them. I am getting notifications on phone, tablet email, and these images show up, on the previews whether I like it or not WITH CHILDREN AROUND!
LisaKazempour-8105 15 Reputation points

2025-12-17T14:53:19.74+00:00

I cannot even report them and get an error. I try deleting and they still are there. Makes me so mad!
Nizare DAMOUMAT 5 Reputation points

2025-12-17T17:33:26.58+00:00

This is a big issue ! I'm being spammed with thousands of files. No way to stop this ! I received spams on my Gmail email address linked to my Microsoft account. I'm suprised that this vulnerability exists. We can see files directly in our laptops ( if synch is activated ).

How can we stop automatic loading of files in our personal OneDrive space ? Is there any alternative?

Best regards,
EA Email Concerns 20 Reputation points

2025-12-17T19:02:05.17+00:00

I just got a file sent to me, a PDF called "18+ Photos 22" by a "Virgil Muccigrosso"

I got an alert on my pc that a file had been shared by this person (whom I do not know) so I clicked the notification thinking it would just send me to the OneDrive but it opened the file!

I luckily didn't click on anything in the file which is a picture of a woman in a compromising position with a man but luckily no nudity. This however is disgusting!

I cannot delete it nor can I block the email as the email is hidden from me!

I've reported it twice and also looked into how to stop people from sharing files with me and there is no way or setting to stop it! Turning off notifications won't stop you from receiving these gross and harmful files!

I did a virus scan just encase although I didn't click anything on the pdf and luckily nothing but it doesn't change anything!

Something needs to be done asap.
PAWAN GUPTA 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T19:09:49.4566667+00:00

Microsoft is not listening only increasing subscription price every year and with more poor customer service every year. Leaving us to a mercy of brainless copilot and deaf staff.
PAWAN GUPTA 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T19:10:15.1933333+00:00

Microsoft is not listening only increasing subscription price every year and with more poor customer service every year. Leaving us to a mercy of brainless copilot and deaf staff.
N Brown 15 Reputation points

2025-12-17T20:49:44.29+00:00

Just got the same issue. Thank you for the suggestions, however I am unable to report these files. it is stuck, on the 'Report' button, and says it is sending but goes back to the one to select, options, to report unfortunately.

May this be fixed soon.

IINCLUDED SCREENSHOT OF SPAM/SCAMMER:
ki_marv453 25 Reputation points

2025-12-17T21:08:01.3733333+00:00

I am absolutely outraged by this. A huge security risk! I've ended up unlinking my OneDrive account from my PC because of this. I don't want no junk/spam on my PC! Why wasn't there an option to allow/disallow people from sharing content with us in the first place? Pretty stupid in my opinion!

(Edit: I didn't realise I was commenting underneath this post... my bad)
ki_marv453 25 Reputation points

2025-12-17T21:09:03.3766667+00:00

I am absolutely outraged by this. A huge security risk! I've ended up unlinking my OneDrive account from my PC because of this. I don't want no junk/spam on my PC! Why wasn't there an option to allow/disallow people from sharing content with us in the first place? Pretty stupid in my opinion!
Joanna 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T21:13:54.2+00:00

I can't believe Microsoft employees thought it a great idea to bring spammers and scammers into close proximity to their customers! Perhaps a spammer/scammer has infiltrated them! I cannot believe a single customer wants this!!
Carl Clifford 25 Reputation points

2025-12-17T21:52:42.1633333+00:00

This has just happened to me and there seems to be no way to delete, block or remove the PDF file. This NEEDS to be addressed URGENTLY!
EA Email Concerns 20 Reputation points

2025-12-17T22:00:58.9166667+00:00

I have the first one i talked about the 18+ one as a short cut in my quick access saying its d.docs.live.net and i cant delete it or find it on my pc, i unlinked my onedrive from my pc i have no idea what to do im scared
James Carter 0 Reputation points

2025-12-18T12:35:03.5466667+00:00

Here's what happens when I try to remove a folder shared with me
Guido 15 Reputation points

2025-12-18T14:29:29.78+00:00

Adding to this that im also receiving unsolicited files with very questionable filenames and unable to report and/or delete these files. Fix this. please.
Matthew John Earley BSc (hons) 70 Reputation points

2025-12-18T14:55:30.1733333+00:00

I have a open ticket with microsoft on this matter and will let you know the outcome when they get back to me.
naoum papagianopoulos 10 Reputation points

2025-12-18T17:36:25.4766667+00:00

I’m having the same issue. I cannot hide or remove the file that was shared with me. How can it show up on my account with me accepting anything to begin with.

i have tried everything. This absurd.

let alone we have issues with calendar invites getting posted without consent and cannot be removed
Marius 5 Reputation points

2025-12-18T19:01:33.9466667+00:00

I have had these shares in my OneDrive for a week now. I can neither delete them nor do I feel that reporting them does anything at all. By now, I have received almost 60 shares. Microsoft, do something about this—this is a serious security issue, and we all pay you enough money. It’s really not too much to ask to protect private users from exactly these kinds of things. Especially since the feature that controls who is allowed to share with me is available to business customers. If this problem is not resolved in the next few days, I will feel compelled to report it to the press to inform others how little you actually care about private users. Very sad, I must say.
Troy Lundquist 0 Reputation points

2025-12-18T19:35:46.26+00:00

Me as well - the past few weeks now!
John 5 Reputation points

2025-12-19T06:52:50.16+00:00

i'm getting weekly crap sent from spammers too.

i can't MASS block or delete/report. it has to be done Individually.

all these smart people working for you and that's the best you came up with? NONSENSE

it looks like you're SUPPORTING these activities.

work on tools to protect us all, to make it easier to Block/Stop/Delete all this crap we're getting.

new allias too. did you get hacked? PATHETIC
CrazyCraig 0 Reputation points

2025-12-19T07:44:32.34+00:00

Me as well, this week, two at the moment?.
Someone 5 Reputation points

2025-12-19T08:40:22.19+00:00

exactly the same: I use this e-mail as microsoft account only. And someone found a way to find it and to spam it. And no solution for one month. Nice!
Thomas 50 Reputation points

2025-12-19T10:13:02.91+00:00

This just happened to me. I hide it from the shared with me but it keeps showing on my recent files. I want it gone.
Akempis 5 Reputation points

2025-12-19T10:29:11.98+00:00

Mayor security flaw. Agree with most people here. This is a deal breaker. If not fixed quickly moving to a others cloud storage provider.
Iain M 15 Reputation points

2025-12-19T10:36:20.6333333+00:00

Same issue here, and it's really poor that MS don't seem that willing to address this issue rather than pass on local 'fixes' to individuals...who pay MS!
Thomas 50 Reputation points

2025-12-19T14:30:11.0733333+00:00

I've opened a ticket on microsoft support and they answered me. Basically, they said that the engineering team is aware of the problem and are working on it. Said to unshare and report the files, but regarding to the file appearing on the "Recent" files tab, it is not possible to hide it. But it should disappear once the problem is solved.

Very frustrating. I had to create several empty files so I won't click on that malicious file by mistake.

Good job Microsoft.
ToW 75 Reputation points

2025-12-20T07:21:09.2366667+00:00

Since my last comment/ reply on the 11th of December I’ve received plenty more shared files/ malware from fraudulent bots. Not just that it is a pain that I manually have to delete the files/ docs it is currently not even possible. In the recent scenario I can’t even report it… it always shows me this error message (see screenshot)…

Please MSFT get your engineers together and make it possible to only receive shared files from contacts or at least have to approve it first! This is a huge security issue in onedrive !!!
Tim G 5 Reputation points

2025-12-20T14:12:01.44+00:00

My shared folder in OneDrive is receiving 20+ shared files a day from hackers. As I do not use this folder regularly I just want to switch it off. How do I do that? The 'Report a Concern' function sometimes faults and there is no way to select all of them at once to delete them. Please Microsoft provide a solution.
Katerina-N 9,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-20T17:04:12.96+00:00

Hi Q&A Community Members,

Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators, contributors including external Microsoft employees cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas.

Given these limitations, the most appropriate avenue for product changes or feature requests is to submit feedback through the official Microsoft feedback channels: https://support.microsoft.com/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332

Thank you for your understanding.
bruce jaffray 25 Reputation points

2025-12-24T13:07:11.5333333+00:00

I have reported over 40 pornographic files which appear the shared folder. Microsoft says this is a violation and action has been taken. Today another 48 files appeared . DO SOMETHING NOW Microsoft!
whhum 5 Reputation points

2025-12-25T07:50:06.2233333+00:00

Same issue, paying home subscriber. This is unacceptable from Microsoft, a massive oversight on their part. Turning off notifications does not make the problem go away. I still have unwanted malware shares in my folder and should not need to select them one by one and report them.
emc00713 45 Reputation points

2025-12-26T21:30:19.9566667+00:00

I have received hundreds of these files. Is Microsoft working on this? What is the hold-up?!?
Flávia Fernandes Neves 5 Reputation points

2026-01-03T17:55:10.0266667+00:00

I have received more than 100 of these unsolicited shares in 15 days, ignoring it is not the solution, I pay for the One Drive service, I don't have to be searching for a shared file in the middle of 100 shares of spam and porn that I can't even easily eliminate! Please look into this!
Iain M 15 Reputation points

2026-01-14T16:56:15.0566667+00:00

I wish Microsoft would accept this is an issue for many (paying) users and work to stop this. Even simply being able to select multiple items rather than one at a time would help.
Tom B 5 Reputation points

2026-03-27T23:07:52.4333333+00:00

Microsoft have been asked by customer's for over a year to stop this occuring and have failed to act. You cannot stop this occuring & you can accidentally open one of theses items when you are trying to report/block a file. I have done this & then had to waste heaps of time running scans to ensure there has been no breach of security. Obviously there is only one way to stop this occuring you have to stop using OneDrive, there is plenty of Cloud storage providers you can use or even setup your own with a NAS. Some Micrsoft customer's have just decided to use another safer operating which I'm trialling with my PC's which had Windows 10 on them. Unless Microsoft provide an actual solution then I will stop using Onedrive shortly as I am transferring my data to a NAS.

Answer accepted by question author

Katerina-N 9,090 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Phillip Confused,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum!

I understand that you have confusion when receiving OneDrive share notifications. That's very understandable and believe me you're not alone. I am here to help you out.

As your description, someone share OneDrive files with your Microsoft account email and Microsoft sends notifications by default. With this case, Are there security concerns?

Yes, potential risks exist:

The shared links could lead to malicious files (viruses, ransomware, phishing).
Clicking the link or downloading files could compromise your device.

Best practice:

Do NOT click any links from unknown senders.
Ignore or delete the notifications.
Keep your antivirus and Microsoft Defender up to date.

Are you liable if they share illegal content?

No, you are not liable just for receiving a share. Liability only arises if you download, store, or redistribute illegal content. Simply ignoring or deleting the share keeps you safe.

Therefore, I have these suggestions for you:

Block the sender’s email

In Outlook.com or Outlook app, add the sender to your Blocked Senders list.

This will stop future email notifications from that address.

Disable OneDrive share notifications

Go to OneDrive Settings > Notifications: Uncheck “Someone shares files with me”.

This stops the in-app pop-up notifications (but not the email unless blocked).

Report the share

In the OneDrive web interface:

Open Shared > Files shared with you.

Select the suspicious share > Remove.

Optionally click Report abuse.

Enable stricter spam filtering

In Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance Center (if you have a paid plan): Add rules to quarantine external sharing notifications.

I hope this will help with your situation. Please feel free to reach back if you have further update or more questions.

Best Regards,

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment”.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Anonymous

2025-12-06T11:54:37.19+00:00

And where do you find "remove" function - there is only "hide from shared" which clearly is not a removal?
Joao Carlos Fernandes Serodio 70 Reputation points

2025-12-08T19:54:21.4733333+00:00

I received a OneDrive notification that a file was shared with me. I tried deleting the files, but there is no option to do so. I need help removing these files and preventing future harassment — for example, how can I restrict who can send shared files to me?
Katerina-N 9,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-09T00:34:13.2233333+00:00
Hello Phillip Confused,

Thank you for your respond.

As your concerns, unfortunately, you can’t delete files that others share with you in OneDrive because you don’t own them, but you can remove access and block future sharing. I suggest you:

1. Remove the shared file from your OneDrive view

Go to OneDrive on the web.

In the Shared section (left panel), find the file or folder.

Select it, then click Remove from shared list (or stop sharing if you own it).

This removes it from your view, but the owner still has the file.

2. Block the sender from sharing with you

Unfortunately, OneDrive doesn’t have a direct “block sharing” feature, but you can:

Block the person’s Microsoft account:

Go to People & Contacts.

Find the person and choose Block.

Report abuse if the sharing is harassing Use Microsoft Report Abuse and select OneDrive.

If you have any updates or further questions, feel free to tag me in your reply so I can assist you more directly. I'll be happy to.

Best Regards,
ToW 75 Reputation points

2025-12-11T08:05:55.2866667+00:00

Hello together, I have an similar issue. The malicious shared folders / files show up directly in my one drive and I receive a notification on my iPhone. It‘s already the 7th folder in < 24h… I don’t want to have to delete every single folder/ file manually. Is there no possibility in settings to only receive shared files/ folders from contacts ? And if no, why not?
MadPeanut 265 Reputation points

2025-12-11T14:04:41.3866667+00:00

This is a significant security flaw with Microsoft. As a user of this platform I should not have to suffer receiving unsolicited onedrive shares, hiding it is not sufficient, its unreasonable to have to keep blocking users, it creates a risk because it floods your shared files area which can mistaking lead to users opening them and being exploited.
Andorus 50 Reputation points

2025-12-11T19:12:10.97+00:00

This is ridiculous! Microsoft is exposing users to malicious attacks. They can release instructions for blocking/reporting/deleting, etc., but the fact remains. Across millions of users, privacy and security breaches WILL occur in hundreds or thousands of users.

The only remedy here is to report and delete? block "notifications" but not block malicious attacks?! Please tell us you're doing something about this...
Katerina-N 9,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-13T16:02:33.1166667+00:00

Hello Andorus, MadPeanut, ToW, Joao Carlos Fernandes Serodio, A S,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum!

I understand that you’re facing the same issue with receiving unwanted OneDrive folder-sharing notifications. I’m truly sorry for this inconvenience when getting spam shares without any way to block the sender must feel very frustrating. I completely understand how upsetting this can be, and I’m here to help.

1. Contact Microsoft Support for escalation

Since these unwanted shares happen every few hours, this is considered persistent harassment.

Please reach out to Microsoft Support through https://support.microsoft.com/contactus > Sign in > OneDrive > For Home Use > Chat or Request a Call.

You can explain: “I am receiving repeated unwanted OneDrive shares without email notifications and I have no option to block the sender. Please help escalate this issue.”

2. Submit feedback

Your feedback is very important to us, it helps our engineering team improve the product for all users. Visit here: Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app

Please understand for us that, we don’t have access to your personal account, your subscription, or your OneDrive data, so we’re not able to control who sends you shared files or stop those shares from your side. To help prevent similar issues in the future, it’s also a good idea to be careful when sharing your email address or personal information on external websites or services.

I truly hope this helps, and I’m always here if you need more assistance or have any updates.

Best regards,
Robert Falk 35 Reputation points

2025-12-15T23:00:49.6933333+00:00

It is unacceptable to put the onus on the users of this product. As users, we are unable to control who sends these files to us. This is a design flaw.
Jason Wescott 55 Reputation points

2025-12-16T00:43:42.5466667+00:00

This is completely unacceptable - there is no option to block these files nor can I stop the same person from sending them again. Making it worse when I open my one drive it automatically opens the file - you have to be kidding me. Fix this right f***ing now.
Robert 20 Reputation points

2025-12-16T16:27:58.2833333+00:00
You state :

In the OneDrive web interface:

Open Shared → Files shared with you.

Select the suspicious share → Remove.

Optionally click Report abuse.

...but I dont see to have the "Remove" option - only "Report a concern" option

Can you clarify.
Wayne Vali 65 Reputation points

2025-12-16T19:23:55.7033333+00:00

Surely this is not just a security issue, but just as important a breach of consent. You should be allowed to review something someone is trying to share with you and be given the option of accepting or denying it else it opens you up to any random spammer that has your email address to automatically share on your drive.
Mark 35 Reputation points

2025-12-16T21:08:46.79+00:00

Pretty ridiculous to ask every user to escalate. it's obviously an issue across all users. So your advice is to swamp your escalation team? Just fix the vulnerability. I have numerous files I cannot remove or report. They appear orphaned files now, due to some backend work carried out already. Introduce a security fix now please. Don't shift the cost to the user to address.
Warwick Soar 35 Reputation points

2025-12-16T23:31:29.0133333+00:00

This isn't a solution.
Jo 45 Reputation points

2025-12-17T07:49:04.3533333+00:00

Ridiculous advice to block the senders. They will be spoofed and randomised for each separate attack. Microsoft needs to take responsibility for this bad security flaw and put in controls to prevent unauthorized senders sharing files without permission. The associated emails are detected as spam, so why on earth would Microsoft allow the file to show in my shared files?!
PT 65 Reputation points

2025-12-17T09:54:17.0366667+00:00
Are you liable if they share illegal content?

No, you are not liable just for receiving a share.

Liability only arises if you download, store, or redistribute illegal content.

Simply ignoring or deleting the share keeps you safe.

This is NOT true for certain images in UK law (people are for example prosecuted for "production" of certain extreme images that were received in WA messages etc) , and a massive risk to people casually allowing this to go on

Also you also say dont click on them etc. Well in your app notifications on mobile they just come up and immediately load the content when clicked not even just to a preview page
Joanna 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T13:04:24.8433333+00:00

Katerina-N You do not know what you are talking about!
J 25 Reputation points

2025-12-17T13:41:34.99+00:00

Does the technical team at Microsoft not realise each shared file is by a different user every time? Removing each file or reporting it doesn't fix it because you end up in an endless loop. The same person doesn't send the unsolicited file; each time to you delete or block them, a new person sends another. The only fix, as everyone is suggesting, is to allow the user to block shared files, preferably by people not on their contact list. I can only hope there is a limit to how many files can be shared with you, as disabling notifications treats the symptom, not the cause. Additionally, enabling "stricter spam filtering" behind a paywall still doesn't solve the issue, as it only applies to notifications. It should be a basic function to all users to block all files shared by people not on your contact list. These scammers have found a loophole and will keep at it until its fixed.
emc00713 45 Reputation points

2025-12-17T18:13:01.6966667+00:00

This answer was no help, at all. Is there a way to stop this kind of Spamming? This seems like a serious security issue. I am getting shared PDF files (that I do not open) that are obviously spam (judging from the explicit titles)- CAN WE NOT STOP THIS?
Your fixes do not answer this immediate issue. There are no email addresses to block, disabling notifications does nothing but mask the build-up of spam messages and reporting the file (one at a time) does nothing but remove that one file- when Microsoft gets around to answering the report. Is there anything we can do?

Serious answers only.
Arthur Visser 45 Reputation points

2025-12-17T18:19:01.5566667+00:00

This is not the answer I wanted to read, reading between the lines I see that wat we want it just not possible. This is a security issue and a case of unsolicited content. Please escalate and have it fixed, thanks. Looks like I'm not the only one, to say the very least.
PAWAN GUPTA 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T18:35:19.91+00:00

I AM PAYING OFFICE 365 FROM 10 YEARS. THEY ARE INCREASING THE PRICE BUT DOWNGRADING THE SERVICE.THEY ARE LEAVING US ON THE MERCY OF BRAINLESS CO PILOT AND DEAF CYSTOMER SERVICE. EVERYDAY I AM GETTING SPAM FILES SHARED FROM UNKNOWN PERSON WHICH I AM MNOT ABLE TO DELETE , REPORT OR HIDE. I WROTE SEVERAL COMPLAIN BUT MICROSOFT IS NOT RESPONDING. IT LOOKS THEY ARE BECOMING CHEATERS. VERY POOR SERVICE PROVIDER
PAWAN GUPTA 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T19:11:13.1666667+00:00

I am not able to even hide or report these spam.Microsoft is not listening only increasing subscription price every year and with more poor customer service every year. Leaving us to a mercy of brainless copilot and deaf staff.
CarrickS-4229 15 Reputation points

2025-12-17T20:11:39.9+00:00

This is completely unacceptable and a major security flaw, I should be able to prevent files being shared from me by all users apart from those who I explicitly allow, and I should be able to completely remove my access to any files shared with me like this. This should be fixed immediately.
RL 15 Reputation points

2025-12-17T21:15:28.3966667+00:00

I have unsolicited files shared with me in my OneDrive. I want a way to turn this off immediately. Microsoft must fix this ASAP!
Matthew John Earley BSc (hons) 70 Reputation points

2025-12-17T21:22:43.8566667+00:00

This response is unacceptable. This is a serious security vulnerability that must be addressed immediately. A straightforward solution would be to automatically block file shares from anyone not in a user’s contact list. Allowing unsolicited files from unknown or clearly fake accounts exposes users to significant risk and could lead to legal consequences.

This is a major failure for a company that should know better when it comes to security.

Also, this is not good, can you not just disable the feature until you have a fix in place?

this has also been posted on the Windows Insiders feedback hub to bring this to Microsoft attention as critical
https://aka.ms/AAz1jtm
EA Email Concerns 20 Reputation points

2025-12-17T21:51:19.3133333+00:00

i just got another one wtf is happening!
Stewart McDermott 10 Reputation points

2025-12-18T08:20:50.5466667+00:00
Same thing just happened to me BUT:

The sender does not exist in Outlook

Your Report A Concern page is "unavailable"

There's no Delete or Block option AT ALL on OneDrive

This is a MAJOR SECURITY ISSUE as unknown people are sharing malicious files to my account. FIX THIS NOW or I'll be back with Google by the end of the day and my OneDrive will be close permanently.
Darren Johnson 10 Reputation points

2025-12-18T09:57:21.4066667+00:00

My onedrive app will not let me report these unsolicited shares, nor will it let me delete them or hide them. This is utterly ridiculous!
GRrrr 15 Reputation points

2025-12-18T17:36:35.99+00:00

This is completely unacceptable and unhelpful.
If MS is not providing a direct tool to block request for file share or folder share, then they have an exploit.
This issue is an Exploit. At this time Any one can send a file or folder request to a user and there is not one to block that share request, if the request pops up on the users phone it auto adds that request to the One Drive account, this is a 0 \ Zero click exploit.
There is no way direct way for a non-Corp account to block these things.
Jürgen Meyer 5 Reputation points

2025-12-18T20:38:06.71+00:00

Where do I found this „In Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance Center (if you have a paid plan): Add rules to quarantine external sharing notifications.“.

I searched for more than a hour and can‘t find where to set this rules?
Anonymous

2025-12-18T20:46:15.8633333+00:00

There is no option to delete or remove. I only get options to open, share, Copilot, download, hide from shared, embed, or report a concern. Everytime I try to report a concern I get an error message. "Something went wrong. Please try again later." Same error from phone and laptop.
Someone 5 Reputation points

2025-12-19T08:37:15.3566667+00:00

@Katerina-N Microsoft has no issues to allow others to spam people, and only if we have a paid plan we have the option to protect ourselves? That is so wrong in so many cases.
Megadyptes 10 Reputation points

2025-12-19T10:06:58.0466667+00:00

Like other people replying, this doesn't work for me. I can't remove the dodgy shared files because I get an error 'Couldn't remove item from shared list' and I can't even report the files. Serious issue that Microsoft isn't being more transparant about. We need the option to disable getting shared files from people not in your contact list that business accounts have!
Akempis 5 Reputation points

2025-12-19T10:31:14.9233333+00:00

This does not solve the issue and it's a very poor not security aware answer. The notifications are not confusing. This is a security breach that needs real fixing. For example a global toggle: DO NOT SHARE ANYTHING.
Thomas 50 Reputation points

2025-12-19T10:35:12.7833333+00:00

You can only remove it from the shared folder, but it keeps showing on "Recent" files. IS there a way to get it away from there as well?
G K 0 Reputation points

2025-12-19T17:00:06.8733333+00:00

Reporting or Deleting or Hiding DO NOT WORK! This is ridiculous. I am being sent a malicious file from a stranger and OneDrive will not allow me to report or delete it.
AES 5 Reputation points

2025-12-20T03:13:11.0566667+00:00

Is there any way this can be managed by Microsoft to stop the malware attacks. I pay handsomely for the use of this app and doing extra work simply in order to be able to focus on actual work just adds insult to injury. I don’t know how to report or stop the notifications and I really don’t have time for this.
Doug D 5 Reputation points

2025-12-20T06:12:37.0833333+00:00

I am unable to hide, unable to delete, unable to report and unable to get the email address from the person or bot that's sharing. I get the following message: "Couldn't remove item from shared list. The provided item ID is not valid for the requested drive".
Erica D 10 Reputation points

2025-12-20T09:28:02.6966667+00:00

I have also been having this problem for the last 10 days. The moderator solution is not working. The Spam contacts do not appear in Outlook to be able to remove or them. There is no option to remove or block them under People in OneDrive. Nor can you remove the spam files, it only gives you the option to download or hide them. Nor is the Report function working to get something done about these spam files and contacts. This is not good enough. Useless and very frustrating.
Katerina-N 9,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-20T17:04:40.52+00:00

Hi Q&A Community Members,

Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators, contributors including external Microsoft employees cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas.

Given these limitations, the most appropriate avenue for product changes or feature requests is to submit feedback through the official Microsoft feedback channels: https://support.microsoft.com/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332

Thank you for your understanding.
John Horton 0 Reputation points

2025-12-20T19:45:31.81+00:00

How can I access the Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance Center if I am not an organization? I have a paid subscription, but the page that pops up states that since I have a personal account, I cannot access the Security & Compliance Center.
Wendy D 5 Reputation points

2025-12-21T02:46:32.91+00:00

I agree with earlier comments that in One Drive under shared folders there should be a private and public folder and within those folders you shouidl be able to allow only known senders or senders you specifically include.
Marius 5 Reputation points

2025-12-24T10:22:10.5133333+00:00

I'm slowly starting to wonder whether Microsoft is completely out of control or simply unaware of the extent of the problem. I'm now up to a total of 163 shared files and am desperate because Microsoft has zero, absolutely zero interest in protecting its private customers. They would rather focus on deleting my last comment because it contained constructive criticism of their product. It seems that the fine gentlemen and ladies don't like that very much. Microsoft is finally getting to grips with the problem. You could solve the problem quickly and easily by adopting the business account feature, which allows you to decide for yourself who can send you what and who can't. But after almost a month of this problem existing, that doesn't seem to be possible. It would be terrible if private accounts also had a little bit of self-determination (irony off).
Thomas 50 Reputation points

2025-12-24T10:28:33.4033333+00:00

Yeah, I agree. Even paying for a subscription does not allow you to have control over things in your account. I've managed to get rid of the shared pdfs, but every time I open OneDrive web, that malicious PDF is showing there at the recent files. Easy to click and open. I asked them why we are not able to clean the recent files anytime we want? They said they are working on it but it is not a priority. Just told me to ignore that file. This is such a basic feature. Also, together with the malicious pdf I have deleted files I no longer have that still show up there.
bruce jaffray 25 Reputation points

2025-12-24T13:08:40.4366667+00:00

Reporting to Microsoft achieves NothIng
Steve Olenick 0 Reputation points

2026-01-06T03:50:23.8+00:00

I can’t locate an email For #1. #2 doesn’t give an option for “Go to OneDrive Settings > Notifications: Uncheck “Someone shares files with me”. #3 I reported but I’m not sure it was sent.
Iain M 15 Reputation points

2026-01-14T16:57:03.6066667+00:00

I, like many, want an actual solution from MS, not a work around we have to do file by file.
Anthony Mancuso 10 Reputation points

2026-01-29T22:00:21.8966667+00:00

I am see the same thing, and when I click hide and remove it comes back on my end too. I would like help to remove this too please!! This is really bad!
Tom B 5 Reputation points

2026-02-19T05:51:20.5666667+00:00

This is ridiculous because you have to do this with each individual file & you should be able to select multiple files to report as spam. More important is you should be able to control who sends files to your Onedrive & anybody that isn't approved should just be blocked.
Tom B 5 Reputation points

2026-03-27T23:11:16.96+00:00

What BS. Time to give Microsoft the flick & go to another OS.
Vanderpool Team 5 Reputation points

2026-04-02T21:34:54.46+00:00

This is not an acceptable answer. It appears people started see shared files with these made up people in December or 2025. What is MS hiding?
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Answer recommended by moderator

Phillip Confused 345

Thank you all very much for your help and assistance.

I guess my biggest concern was with Viruses and Malware, but as these can't be activated remotely, I'm much more relaxed.

I've also found other links and support on Microsoft.com, apparently you can't stop random people or AI bots sending out links and it's impossible to block them all.

The ANSWER!!!

The only thing you can do, is to turn off notifications and not stress about something you can't stop/change.

Kindest Regards,

Phil.

Andorus 50 Reputation points

2025-12-24T17:10:03.4166667+00:00

That is not the only thing that you can do. You can continue to tell Microsoft how ridiculous this is and force their hand at change. Sure, this won't be a major issue for me or you, but across millions of PCs, business and personal users WILL suffer losses. It only takes one click...
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17 additional answers

John54016 245 Reputation points

2025-12-11T13:49:35.46+00:00

How about Microsoft create a setting in OneDrive that allows users to only allow files from contacts?
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Anthony Philipp 145 Reputation points

2025-12-11T22:29:33.04+00:00

That seems like a good idea.

Katerina-N 9,090 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-13T16:09:29.3+00:00

Hello John54016,

That's very great idea of you. I am so sorry for the inconvenient it might cause.

Your feedback is very important to us; it helps our engineering team improve the product for all users. Visit here to report the issue and share your idea with our technical team: Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app

Thank you for your understanding and sharing your idea!

Best Regards,

Joanna 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T13:01:42.04+00:00

How long is it going to take for Microsoft to accept and admit that they have totally mucked up with the stupid idea of allowing, spammers, hackers, pornographers, etc., to share their vile files to its customers!! Please would your staff refrain from offering solutions which do not work and put them wo work on a real solution to protect your customers. Microsoft should be held liable for any losses as a result of people accidentally or unknowingly clicking on the unsolicited files which Microsoft is allowing into their customers OneDrives.

Adam Sklar 10 Reputation points

2025-12-18T15:01:11.51+00:00

Exactly, agreed with all of the above. This is a horrific oversight and a massive risk to those who may be less tech-savvy and/or vulnerable, by default security measures should ALWAYS only allow for registered contacts to be able to share files with you, and have a drop down menu to choose whether you'd like to receive All Shared Files, Contact Shared Files, or No Shared Files. While turning off the notification may be safe, in the long run the safest option would be to not allow people/bots to be able to do this at all.
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Lars Christian Gjøsæther 105 Reputation points

2025-12-11T20:10:53.5466667+00:00

I have the same issue. My OneDrive get Spammed by bots sharing content with me. It is a huge security flaw. I am a paying customer and recieve 50-100 Spam emails pr 24 hours. Now I have to delete hide SPAMfiles shared with me on top of reporting all that SPAM in Outlook. This is super annoying. It is clearly someone found a way to bypass all security in Microsoft. Just add the feature that only people in my contaclis are allowed to share with me and this issue would be managable.

If Microsoft is not fixing this issue and filtering better, I need to protect myself and move to a different provider that take better care of me.

If this is not fixed by January I will move to a different plattform and pay them for better security.
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Tom B 5 Reputation points

2026-03-27T23:10:14.46+00:00

Yep time to give Microsoft the flick & go to another OS.
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Anthony Philipp 145 Reputation points

2025-12-11T03:39:57.7666667+00:00

I'm getting the same issue. Worse, although I can report several of these messages for spam, and within a few hours, the files are removed and blocked, there are several files which I can not report. It says: "Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again later." What setting do I need to change in order to report these files, which are clearly spam at best and potentially viruses or malware at worst?

I had about 20 and was able to report most of them, but not all. I figure by reporting, I'm increasing the likelihood that the account gets blocked, and thus perhaps reducing the impact for other people.

Thanks for any help here. It just started a few days ago.
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Anthony Philipp 145 Reputation points

2025-12-15T04:49:10.7166667+00:00

So some additional updates to this. If you click "Hide from Shared" there is a checkbox to report as spam. Interestingly, for a few of these files, they can't even be removed using this mechanism, because "The provided item ID is not valid for the requested drive." A successful removal looks like the green check mark one at the end of the list and says: "Successfully removed item from the shared list."

I think what's happening is that AI agents/bots are spamming OneDrive. They get reported, but if the account is blocked and deleted by Microsoft, some of these files are then orphaned. That's the most logical thing I can come up with. Therefore the file is still there, but the associated account is not. Sucks that it can't even be removed at that point. I'm assuming, eventually, it will be cleaned up.

Removal Steps

In the mean time, I suggest selecting, but not clicking on a file, and either clicking on one of two options.

Option 1: "Hide from Shared" and then make sure the checkbox is selected for "Report this file as spam"

Or, Option 2: "Report a concern" and mark it as spam or a virus. This process is not immediate, whereas the first does generally remove the file immediately, and presumably reports it as spam.

Photos below of both successful and not successful "Hide from Shared" with spam reporting.

Kevin 25 Reputation points

2025-12-17T13:51:39+00:00

It really is a disgrace that this is happening. I have so many files and I cannot even delete half of these scam files

PAWAN GUPTA 60 Reputation points

2025-12-17T19:14:02.56+00:00

Microsoft is not listening only increasing subscription price every year and with more poor customer service every year. Leaving us to a mercy of brainless copilot and deaf staff.

S Mc 10 Reputation points

2025-12-19T18:17:34.8833333+00:00

I have exactly the same issue, I cannot report the file, hide it or delete it. Everytime I try I get that same error message this is ridiculous that someone / somebot can spam users with files and there's no way of getting rid of it!

Readingmom 10 Reputation points

2025-12-20T00:24:01.5+00:00

I don’t have time to delete /hide and report all of them. I don’t want them in there in the event I or one of my kids accidentally clicks on them. This is totally unacceptable for the amount I’m paying. I don’t have this problem with Google Drive. Microsoft needs to solve this asap or I will end my subscription.

mc 5 Reputation points

2025-12-26T07:53:34.3166667+00:00

Could MS add the option to delete all shared spam files in OneDrive. At the moment there is no option to delete single or multiple shared spam / phishing files. It's not practical to keep hiding and reporting them one by one
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Receiving unsolicited OneDrive File/Folder shares, how do I stop it?

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